Spooky Men's Chorale wow Sidmouth festival goers
THEY began with a harmonised song from Georgia. My husband didn t clap. But by the end of the evening he, like me, had known what it is like to enjoy the fabulous Spooky Men s Chorale from Australia.
THEY began with a harmonised song from Georgia. My husband didn't clap. But by the end of the evening he, like me, had known what it is like to enjoy the fabulous Spooky Men's Chorale from Australia.
Back for a second time to Sidmouth, these men in black - with a few shades of grey to break up the blackness - originate from the Blue Mountains.
They are not a very handsome bunch, coming in all shapes, ages, sizes and facial expressions, but their unaccompanied voices would make an angel's toes curl.
Once again they packed out the Ham Marquee, at a concert sponsored by Sidmouth seafront hotels - Dukes, Elizabeth, Devoran and Kingswood.
They sang praises to hardware - Don't Stand Between a Man and his Tool - as well as remodelling pop favourites from Queen and Abba.
The latter Dancing Queen, described as a Swedish folk song by the choir leader, saw the men sport silly Viking hats, horns and blonde wigs.
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A pair of dodgy cymbals, toy gun and strange instrument with a spring, accompanied their version of Queen's Flash.
Every number, preceded by the usual banter, received rapturous applause, including a solo by Ryan "one of the younger members" who sang Lightpole an ode to a lamppost (lightpole in Australian), while trying to avoid the burning eyes of the distracting choir leader.
From the psalm-like Affirmation of St Kevin the Cloud, to a song about deep voices, the 17-strong Spooky Men deserve sell-out shows while touring the UK. If you missed them in Sidmouth they will be in Chiswick on Sunday.
Let's hope Sidmouth will snap them up again when they next brave the UK weather.
